Golfing target



nswaLmK 3,511,506

eowme TARGET Filed April 10. 1968 T May 12, 1970 FIG.2.

INVENTOR 484 Swa /ca ATTORNEY U.S. Cl. 273-179 United States Patent O3,511,506 GOLFING TARGET Nigel Schollick, 6 Barnton Park Crescent,Edinburgh 4, Scotland Filed Apr. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 720,014 Claimspriority, application Great Britain, Apr. 11, 1967, 16,585/ 67 Int. Cl.A63b 57/00, 63/00, 69/36 2 Claims ABSTRACT or no; DISCLOSURE A golf balltarget wherein a hinged flap closes an aperture in a concave golf ballreturn surface. An electric buzzer is operated when the flap is movedinwardly by a struck golf ball. The electrical circuitry includes anoperating plunger spring-loaded to bear on the inside of the flap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games.

It is an object of the invention to provide a game which can be used forpractising golf shots.

According to the invention, a game comprises a target, an aperture inthe target closed by a hinged flap, an electric switch arranged to beclosed by movement of the hinged flap inwardly of the housing, and asignal device operable when the switch is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a golfpractising game,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the game with a wall removed, and

FIG. 3 is an end view of an alternative construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment of the invention,illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf practising device comprises ahousing with a base 1 and two side members 2 which are of roughly righttriangular shape but each having a front edge which curves inwards ofthe housing. A front face 3 is a target face and is secured to the frontedges of the side members 2 so as tocurve inwards of the housing. A back4 is secured to the upright rear edges of the side members 2 and has anopening providing access to the interior of the housing and closed by adetachable cover 5.

If a golf ball is driven on to the curved front face 3 of the housing bya player standing in front of it, the ball will be returned to theplayer owing to the shape of the front face.

The centre of the front face is marked with a target which may, forexample, represent a golf hole. An aperture 6 is provided in the curvedfront face of this target. This aperture 6 is closed by a flap which canswing about a hinge fixed on the inside of the front face. An electricswitch 9 is supported on a bracket 10 inside the housing and has anoperating plunger 11 which can be depressed "ice to close the switch 9.This plunger 11 is loaded by a spring 12 to its open position and bearsagainst the inner or rear side of the flap. The switch 9 is connected toan electric battery 13 and a buzzer 14 or other audible or visualsignalling device. Thus, if a ball hits the flap, the flap will swingabout its hinge to depress the plunger, close the switch and sound thebuzzer or operate a visual signalling device as the case may be. Theflap will return to its normal position under the action of the springload ing of the plunger.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the target face is not the front face of aclosed housing, but is a wall supported in its position of use by a legor strut 15. The switch, buzzer and battery are supported on the back ofthe target face and are enclosed in a removable cover 16.

An audible signalling device is preferred because this enables thegolfer to keep his head down while practising his putting.

The invention has been described above as havin an inwardly curvingface. It may, however, if desired, have a straight face.

What I claim is:

1. A golf practising device comprising a target, an aperture in thetarget closed by a hinged flap, an electric circuit and switch arrangedto be closed by moveunent of the hinged flap inwardly of the target anda signal device operable when the switch is closed, said target being aninwardly curved front face of a housing, said face forming a returnsurface for golf balls, and the electric switch having an operatingplunger springloaded to bear on the inside of the flap, so that inwardmovement of the flap displaces the plunger to close the electriccircuit, the circuit including an electrically operable buzzer.

2. A golf practising device comprising a target, an aperture in thetarget closed by a hinged flap, an electric circuit and switch arrangedto be closed by movement of the hinged-flap inwardly of the target and asignal device operable when the switch is closed, said target being acurved wall providing a concave target surface for returning golf balls,the electric switch being secured to the rear of the wall and having anoperating plunger which is spring-loaded to bear on the flap so as toresist inward movement thereof, movement of the plunger in response toinward movement of the flap closing an electric circuit including anelectrically operable buzzer secured to the rear of the wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,476 10/ 1928 Brumder.3,133,733 5/1964 Elseroad 273102.2 X 3,288,467 11/1966 Rudolph 273- XGEORGE I. MARLO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

